Big Bass On Small Waters

These days bass fishing is a wildly popular pastime with big boats and fancy reels and we do our best to keep up with the onslaught of lures and lines, rods and reels. Sometimes these things can get in the way of the fun of fishing and we need a break. Don’t get me wrong I have a boat with lures and plastics from bow to stern. I enjoy my boat and high tech gadgets and big lakes but sometimes chasing big bass on small waters can provide a great day of bass fishing.

Locating fish on a giant body of water and deciding which lure to use based on water temperature and/or water clarity can be fun. It’s also considered work breaking down so many possibilities. Small waters can be a great change in pace and who knows you might hook into the bass of a lifetime and locate a hot spot for you and your family when you just want to go have some fun.

I’ve found over the years that small bodies of water, whether an old farm pond or retention pond in the city, hold great opportunities for big bass action. Whether you use a small boat powered by electric trolling motor or choose to cast from shore these small bodies of water can be home to not only big bass but big aggressive bass and nothing is more fun than bass attacking your lure cast after cast.

Pressured Bass Tactics On Small Waters

Large lakes all across America are seeing more and more pressure from anglers as well as boaters. These activities can really affect the fishing on any given lake. Large bodies of water are bombarded day in and day out. Smaller lakes that dot the landscape throughout the mid-west go untouched. The bass are less weary of your presentation on these smaller waters.They are much more aggressive than big lakes that see so much pressure.

Baits for small lakes can vary and a lot depends on the pressure the lake receives. Some small lakes get some pressure especially retention ponds in the city as many kids and grown-ups flock to anywhere that allows for fun in the outdoors. Bait selection in these ponds can be a bit trickier than one that is tucked away on the backside of a 200-acre farm and hasn’t been fished in years.

If you visit a popular pond where there are lots of anglers you will notice that a couple baits stand out and these are usually spinners of all shapes, sizes and colors. Pressured bass have learned to avoid spinners, for the most part. My favorite bait for these small waters has to be a plastic worm. Plastic baits require more patience and can be tough to master compared with spinners and crankbaits.

Fun Fishing For Small Water Bass

Most people just out to have a little fun are not going to take the time to learn to use plastics. The bass have seen very few plastic baits in their lifetime. I assure you it makes a difference as it has been proven that bass do remember being hooked. Also what type of bait stuck them. Offer something new and your arm may be tired at the end of the day.

Many ponds are fairly clear around its bank and offer little visible cover. Even without a fish finder, invisible cover can be probed with a plastic worm. Work the entire pond meticulously as you feel the logs and other bottom cover with the weedless rigged bait. After a few trips you will know the bottom of that particular body of water like the back of your hand. This will help you locate and land many more fish.

Small Waters Bass Fishing Technology

There is still a place for modern technology on small bodies of water. In fact there is a product line now that targets small water anglers and it can add to the fun. A small boat with electric trolling motor is all you need to get around a small lake. Fish finders can come in handy too in plotting the makeup of a lake and locating either the fish themselves or cover where fish are likely to be.

One thing to keep in mind when fishing these small bodies of water is stratification. Stratification will cause bass to suspend. If the plastic worm isn’t producing you may need to go with a lure that stays high in the water column. A suspending jerk bait or shallow diving crankbait should do the trick. I tend to go with a topwater presentation during these situation. Most people shy away from topwater baits. This presentation can be outstanding on small lakes and ponds.

A great choice on top is a floating Rapala. Barely twitch the Rapala to create a small ripple in the water. Then let it sit for several seconds. This technique allows you to keep the lure in the strike zone longer. This will harass the bass into striking and they can be violent.

The world record bass was caught from a small lake in Georgia. A pending world record was caught from a 72 acre lake located in California. Bass can grow very large in small lakes as long as the forage is right. Don’t let the size of a lake fool you into thinking there’s no big bass in it. You never know, when that retention pond you drive by every day will hold the next world record bass. GOOD LUCK!

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